A shocking “BJP vs BJP” clash took place in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. UP Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh faced a public confrontation from his own party’s MLA in Mahoba district over water supply issues.
In a surprising turn of events for Uttar Pradesh politics, Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh was stopped on the highway by BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput (Brijbhushan Singh). The incident happened in the Mahoba district on Friday, January 30, 2026. The MLA and his supporters blocked the Minister’s car to complain about the poor implementation of the ‘Har Ghar Nal’ (Tap water for every home) scheme.
Here is a simple breakdown of the high-voltage drama, why it happened, and what action is being taken.
What Happened in Mahoba?
The incident occurred on the Sagar-Kanpur highway near Ramshree Mahavidyalaya. Swatantra Dev Singh, who is the Jal Shakti Minister of UP, was returning from a student event organized by the ABVP.
Suddenly, BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput, along with several village heads (Gram Pradhans) and supporters, parked their SUVs in the middle of the road. They blocked the Minister’s convoy (line of official cars).
Witnesses reported a chaotic scene. There was a heated argument between the MLA’s supporters and the Minister’s security team. Reports say there was shouting and even some pushing and shoving. The situation became very tense, and the police had to step in to control the crowd.
Read more: Epstein List 2026
Why Was the BJP MLA Angry?
Even though both leaders belong to the same party (BJP), the MLA was very angry about local development issues.
The Main Complaints:
- Water Crisis: The MLA claimed that the Jal Jeevan Mission (a central government scheme to provide tap water) was failing in his area. He said many villages still have dry taps.
- Broken Roads: To lay water pipelines, contractors dug up village roads but did not repair them. This has caused trouble for local people for months.
- Ignoring Officials: The MLA alleged that government officers were not listening to the complaints of the villagers.
MLA Brijbhushan Rajput told reporters, “This is Prime Minister Modi’s dream scheme. If officers are negligent, it brings a bad name to the government. I had to stop the Minister to show him the reality.”
Minister Swatantra Dev Singh’s Response
Facing this unexpected protest, Minister Swatantra Dev Singh stepped out of his car. He tried to calm the angry MLA and the villagers.
Instead of fighting back, the Minister took the MLA with him to the District Collectorate. He held an emergency meeting with senior district officials.
The Minister promised three things:
- 20-Day Deadline: He asked for 20 days to fix the water supply issues in the affected villages.
- Strict Action: He promised that if any officer is found guilty of negligence, they will be suspended immediately.
- Personal Visit: He offered to visit the 40 affected villages personally to check the ground reality.
Impact on UP Politics
This incident has created a buzz in Lucknow and Delhi. It is rare for a ruling party MLA to publicly block a senior Cabinet Minister.
- Opposition Reaction: Opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress are using this incident to attack the Yogi Adityanath government. They say this proves that development works are not reaching the poor.
- Party Discipline: Political experts believe the BJP high command may look into this breach of discipline, even though the issue raised (water) is a valid public concern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who is Swatantra Dev Singh?
Swatantra Dev Singh is a senior BJP leader and the Cabinet Minister for Jal Shakti (Water Resources) in the Uttar Pradesh government. He is also the former State President of the BJP in UP.
Q2: Why was Swatantra Dev Singh stopped in Mahoba?
He was stopped by local BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput who was angry about the lack of drinking water and broken roads in his constituency.
Q3: What is the Jal Jeevan Mission?
It is a central government scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi. The goal is to provide clean tap water to every rural household in India.
Q4: Did the Minister resign?
No, the Minister did not resign. He held a meeting with officials and promised to solve the water problems within 20 days.
Q5: What will happen next?
The administration has been given a deadline. If the water supply is not fixed in 20 days, the local MLA has threatened to protest again.